Federal Legislative Cannabis Reform | Pathway towards Progress in the 117th

As more and more states vote to legalize cannabis for adult use, the next question is whether the federal government will follow suit. The 2020 election placed Democrats in control of the Oval Office and both houses of Congress. This monopoly gives Democrats the power, if they so choose, to push for the legalization of cannabis nation-wide.

However, federal legalization of cannabis would cause some issues in the states that could threaten to derail support from members of both parties. In those states where cannabis is already legal, how would a federal law impact their ability to regulate the market in their state? States that have not legalized cannabis may lack the infrastructure to compete in this new market. To make this a true nation-wide legalization, issues such as interstate cannabis commerce and regulatory compliance would need to be addressed.

This one hour CLE, Federal Legislative Cannabis Reform | Pathway towards Progress in the 117th, explores these issues and more surrounding the federal legalization of cannabis and the possible paths such a bill could take. The discussion will be guided by four experts in cannabis law and policy.

Saphira Galoob is the Principal and CEO of The Liaison Group (TLG), D.C.’s only lobbying firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry. Galoob works with both the House and Senate Cannabis Caucus and Working Groups and was a founding member of the National Cannabis Roundtable.

Amber Littlejohn, the Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, bring a more local policy focus. As the senior policy advisor for the MCBA, she helps minority cannabis entrepreneurs to expand their markets.

David Mangone, Director of Policy for The Liaison Group, focuses primarily on the financial side of the cannabis industry. He directs policies that helps connect cannabis business with access to financial services and is an expert in federal regulation and cannabis banking policy.

Dan Cohen is an associate at K & L Gates in the firm’s D.C. office. Cohen’s practice centers around regulatory compliance matters, including cryptocurrency platforms. Cohen has also published numerous articles on financial services and cannabis banking policy.

This CLE is packed with experts in all aspects of federal cannabis legalization and the paths and hurdles such legislation could face. It is a must for any attorney that practices in or wants to move into the area of cannabis law.

Is Cannabis Now Legal in Mexico? Answers here…

First, thanks so much to my friend and Mexico City attorney Elias Lisbona Jassán of Perez Ferrer Abogados , who co-authored this piece with me, David Feldman . To answer the question in the headline, I think the legal term is “sort of.” This topic, of course, is important not only for the 120 million folks living in Mexico but for all of us in the rest of North America. It also portends where things might be headed in the rest of this hemisphere, and increases pressure on US lawmakers and leaders to consider further action if Mexico were to join Canada with full adult-use legalization. In addition, it enhances the hope of many to create multilateral trade in cannabis once the US moves to legalize it. How did we get here? For those who have not focused much on the developments in Mexico, let’s review the timeline in order. • Cannabis became illegal in Mexico in 1920. Interestingly, for just four months in 1940, cannabis became “legal,” when then-President Lázaro Cárdenas enacted r...

Cannabis Branding: On the Edge of the Metaverse

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash Branding in the Metaverse is all the rage. In the last three months alone, well-known brands like Nike, Converse, New Balance, Vineyard Vines, Tahari, Anthropologie, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and, even Walmart, have all filed applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for intent-to-use trademarks in connection with “digital goods;”# opportunistic filings by individuals not affiliated with name brands have appeared in Classes 9, 35, and 41# for both PRADA and GUCCI; and Metaverse Law, a clever California law firm has been diligently going through the motions in their attempt to trademark the very word on everyone’s lips. But what is Metaverse, and why should you, the owner of the expertly cultivated flower brand, or producer of the most delicately infused edibles care? Metaverse is a virtual world meant to support decentralized, persistent three-dimensional environments, and accessible by anyone with a smart phone,...

INCBA Europe Conference at CB Expo in Zurich 2022 – a great success!

On the weekend of September 10th, INCBA hosted the first ever Conference for Cannabis Lawyers in Europe at the CB Expo. Over the course of two days, seventeen attorneys from Europe and the US presented seven sessions on the main legal issues facing the European cannabis market. Topics included the principle of free movement of hemp and cannabis products within the EU, the legal classification of CBD products as food or cosmetics, contractual aspects of importing cannabis products into the EU, the legal hurdles in the legalization of recreational cannabis, and much more. The active and participatory audience included both lawyers as well as interested entrepreneurs who could take away valuable insights for their businesses. In addition to the unparalleled education, there was plenty of networking to be found, including the social reception at Cannavigia sponsored by INCBA on the eve of the conference, at the after-party of the conference itself, or at the closing dinner with INCBA...

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker Set to Deliver Keynote Speech at INCBA Cannabis Law Institute 2024, Alongside Other Industry Leaders

Chicago, IL – July 10, 2024 – The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) announced today that the Cannabis Law Institute sm (CLI 2024) will feature Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker as the keynote speaker on Thursday July 25th. The event is scheduled to take place on July 25-26, 2024, at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. CLI 2024 aims to provide critical insights for law professionals, particularly in light of federal rescheduling in the cannabis industry. Governor J.B. Pritzker is recognized for signing House Bill 1438, the nation's most equity-centric law legalizing adult-use cannabis. This initiative positioned Illinois as the first state to fully legalize adult-use cannabis through legislation and serves as a model for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis nationwide. “It is a great honor to have the Governor deliver the keynote speech at CLI 2024,” said Jason Horst, President of the INCBA. “Governor Pritzker's l...

INCBA Statement on Recriminalization of Hemp in the United States

For immediate release November 20, 2025 Last week, after the longest shutdown in US history, Congress re-opened the federal government after passing the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 . One effect of the bill is to recriminalize hemp-related activity previously made lawful under the 2018 Farm Bill by banning most hemp products that contain THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids. The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) recognizes that this new law will have a significant impact on the legal work of its attorney members and the businesses of their clients, in addition to the ongoing challenges to the cannabis industry as a whole and is prepared to meet the moment head on.  The legislative language requires, among other things, that upon the one-year anniversary of its enactment the definition of “hemp” will change to encompass total THC—including delta-9, delta-8...

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